Pilot Debrief

BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY8B near Rock Hill, SC — 2016-03-12

Final reportGAA16LA172
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Date
2016-03-12
Location
Rock Hill, SC, USA
Aircraft
BALLOON WORKS FIREFLY8B
Registration
N3180S
Category
Balloon
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind, which resulted in the balloon landing hard and a passenger sustaining a serious injury.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was operating a balloon sightseeing trip with two passengers on board. According to the pilot, after the balloon cleared trees during the approach to a field, a wind gust and downdraft caused it to land hard; the balloon sustained no damage. The pilot reported that, for the landing sequence, both passengers were instructed to put their feet and knees together, slightly bend their knees, and hold onto two places in the basket. During the hard landing, one passenger was thrown into another passenger and impacted her leg with his knee, which resulted in her sustaining a serious injury. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the balloon that would have prevented normal operation. The closest weather reporting system, located about 5.5 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, and the pilot reported that the wind was from 110 degrees and between about 3 and 5 knots around the time of the accident. It is likely that the pilot did not adequately compensate for the wind during the landing approach, which resulted in the hard landing and the passenger's serious injuries.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Environmental
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different landing site to avoid wind gusts.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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